Sergio Garcia expects tension when LIV Golf players arrive at Wentworth

LIV Golf rebel Sergio Garcia is expecting tension at the BMW PGA Championship between players on the Saudi-backed circuit and those who have remained loyal to their respective tours.

Speaking to Golf Digest at the fourth LIV Golf Invitational near Boston, Garcia isn't concerned about those who don't welcome him to the DP World Tour's flagship event at Wentworth which has attracted a world-class field.

Garcia will join Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell as some of the most recognisable European LIV figures to be teeing it up as well as Patrick Reed and Talor Gooch from America.

The DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, don't have it in its constitution to suspend players as the PGA Tour has done. LIV Golf players were suspended from three co-sanctioned events in the summer.

Garcia, 42, still wants to support the DP World Tour where he has won 16 times in his illustrious career which includes a sole major win at The Masters in 2017.

"I’m sure some guys will be tense about it (because) we’re going to go out there and play; what I’m going to do is support the European tour and that’s all I can do. Whoever doesn't like it, too bad for them," Garcia said after the second round of the Boston Invitational.

"It’s been great; every time I look at the decision of joining LIV it confirms that I'm very happy with everything we're doing, not only personally but also a twist on the game.

"I think it's working when you look at the demographic around the course; it's a lot younger. Obviously, this is a new step. It’s something exciting and new. It feels like the future of golf and it’s nice to be a part of it."

There were 18 LIV Golf players in the field at Wentworth, but Martin Kaymer has since withdrawn after being informed that LIV players weren't welcome to play in the Wednesday Pro-Am.

The Spaniard has jeopardised his chances of ever playing in the Ryder Cup again for Team Europe and he has ended his hopes of one day captaining the side.

Following the release of the qualification criteria for the 2023 matches, he would need to finish in the top three of the European Points List, but this would require playing well in a number of DP World Tour events.

Captain Luke Donald has six picks this time around, but the Englishman is unlikely to choose any player that has defected to the Saudi-backed series.

According to reports, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman sees Garcia as an important figure in negotiations to secure Valderrama, a famous Ryder Cup venue, as one of the host venues on LIV Golf's 2023 schedule.